During a campaign rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, on April 13, Donald Trump asserted his intention to address what he perceives as a prevalent “anti-white feeling” in America if re-elected to a second term in the Oval Office.
In an interview with TIME, Trump expressed concerns about what he views as biases within the Biden Administration, suggesting that certain policies appear to be against individuals with particular viewpoints, including Catholics. Trump contends that there is a discernible anti-white sentiment in the country that he believes should not be tolerated.
Regarding potential solutions, Trump stated that he doesn’t anticipate it being a particularly challenging issue to address but criticized existing laws and educational practices as unfair and stifling. He emphasized the need for fairness in both legislation and education.
During his first term, Trump’s Justice Department investigated affirmative action admissions policies at universities, which they believed could disadvantage white applicants. Notably, the Supreme Court ruled against race-based affirmative action in college admissions last year, a major win for Trump and his allies in the Republican Party.
Looking ahead, Trump has pledged to take action against what he perceives as excessively “woke” schools, including imposing taxes and fines. He has also expressed support for numerous bills aimed at cracking down on DEI policies in higher education, many of which have been introduced in state legislatures. Additionally, Trump and segments of the Republican base have criticized critical race theory and have sought to remove it from educational curricula across the nation.
Recent polling data from YouGov indicates that Republicans are more likely to believe that white people face significant discrimination compared to black or Arab Americans. Furthermore, Republicans are more inclined to view hate crimes against white individuals as a serious problem when compared to hate crimes against black or Arab Americans.
Trump has maintained that he has been the target of anti-white discrimination, often labeling black prosecutors investigating him as “racist” and characterizing the Black Lives Matter movement as a “symbol of hate.”